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Friday, January 14, 2011

Songs That Move Me (& Blog Reno)

So I decided to change up the ol' blogger background with something more personalized and slightly more creative than the non-customized Watermark template I was using before. Please let me know what you think.

In terms of the colours, it feels almost military to me... can't say why.

Most importantly, though, is the background image. It is Scooby Doo playing in the backyard, when she still had a desire for tennis balls in May of 2008. I love the crazy, playful pose she is in.

I pixelated and muted the image so it wasn't just a bright colour photo. Feel free to let me know what you think about the colours, fonts, layout, etc. I like the busy-ness of the header (I'm tacky like that, yo), but be honest. I want the site to be user/reader friendly.

On Monday it will be one year without Scooby.

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Here's a good song with some great advice...

Lyrics & Copywrite (not owned by me):

Baz Luhrmann - Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)

Ladies and Gentlemen of the class of ’99Wear sunscreen.
If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience…

I will dispense this advice now.

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth; oh never mind; you will not
understand the power and beauty of your youth until they have faded.
But trust me, in 20 years you’ll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can’t grasp now, how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked….

You’re not as fat as you imagine.

Don’t worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as
effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum.The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind; the kind that blindside you at 4pm on some idle Tuesday.

Do one thing everyday that scares you. Sing.

Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts, don’t put up with people who are reckless with yours.

Floss.

Don’t waste your time on jealousy; sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you’re behind…the race is long, and in the end, it’s only with yourself.

Remember the compliments you receive, forget the insults;
if you succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters, throw away your old bank statements.

Stretch.

Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your life…the most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives, some of the most interesting 40 year olds I know still don’t.

Enjoy your body, use it every way you can…don’t be afraid of it, or what other people
think of it, it’s the greatest instrument you’ll ever own.

Dance…

Even if you have nowhere to do it but in your own living room.

Read the directions, even if you don’t follow them. Do NOT read beauty magazines, they will only make you feel ugly.

Get to know your parents, you never know when they’ll be gone for good. Be nice to your siblings; they are your best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go, but for the precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle because the older you get, the more you need the people you knew when you were young.

Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard;
Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft.

Travel.

Accept certain inalienable truths, prices will rise, politicians will philander, you too will get old, and when you do you’ll fantasize that when you were young prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders.

Respect your elders.

Don’t expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund, maybe you have a wealthy spouse; but you never know when either one might run out.

Don’t mess too much with your hair, or by the time you're 40, it will look 85.

Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it’s worth.

The layout is fine, I like the colors....they make it easier to read for my eyes (my poor old eyes. heh)

I LOVE the photo of Scooby, but wish it wasn't behind the light gray bar... would love to be able to see it better.

I am so sorry for your loss, it was five years before we brought another dog into our lives after my Boris died. I have a picture of him where he is running toward me in the park, that is one of my favorites because it is also an action shot that shows his beautiful spirit. I still miss him, but have been blessed with Fiona, an American Dingo/Carolina Dog, and Daisy Mae, a shi tzu/poodle mix.

The layout is not too busy. Attention is focused on the content. That's probably what you wanted. Probably you wanted to maintain interest too and not be barren. If so, you succeeded.

I think I read that whole bit in the video somewhere. It sure seems familiar, but I liked the guy's voice. Thanks. Unfortunately, I am starting to see the bitter sweetness of departed youth myself, so...

And there was something else I was gonna say, damn it! Where'd it go... <re-reads> Oh yeah, the font on the transcirpt was itsy-bitsy. Actually could just barely read it, but then, my eyes get strained sometimes.Best, Rick

@hed - Are you directing me to the champagne room?... Checking out the link momentarily.

@AmberLaShell - Thanks Amber! She was the light of my life. There will be a tribute post for her on Monday.

@George - Thanks for the feedback. Is it better/same/worse? I can't edit those damn reactions, or the placement of "comments". Bo.

@V-Tom - I don't know why it is so slow to load. I need a friend who knows HTML to help me cut that time down. I also can't adjust the "comments" placement (stupid Blogger says it's a 'known issue' since July 2009!)

@bruce - Thanks. Losing a dog really sucks, especially when they are so close. She was with me through everything from age 16 to 28. We have Schultz, but again, each dog is different and one never 'replaces' the other. We just love them differently. Sorry to hear about Browndog and Whitedog.

@Angie - Glad this layout is easier to read. I LOVE that you LOVE her picture! Check back for Monday's post.

You've articulated what I could not -I think this picture captures her spirit. Perfect! I'd love to see your favourite Boris picture. Feel free to email me or post a link. I hope Fiona and Daisy Mae continue to bring you much happiness!

@BettyBo - You know we love that girl! It's been a hard week. I've been working on something for Monday's post for Scooby, and I've been crying a shitload. I miss her so much.

@Oilfield Trash - You don't say that to ALL the girls, do ya? *wink*.

Little did I know as I was posting that song to the site (I haven't heard it in at least 7 years), my BF was listening to it on a plane on the way home. There is some really good advice in there.

@Brandy Rose - Did you like it? How 'bout the blog design/text/colours?

@Richard G. Crockett - Yeah, I was selfish with the text sizing. I made it small intentionally so that folks might still scroll to the post below it. I think they'd be terrified if they loaded the page and the scroll bar was teeny-tiny.

The sunscreen song may be a bit tacky,but every time I read it there are some bits that shout out at me! Like today. The part about dispensing advice makes me cringe thinking of myself giving my kids my wonderful well earned advice! However, the part that makes me grin very widely is that I make an awesome natural sunscreen, with organic ingredients, and so believe me - they trust me on the sunscreen!Yay!

@Everyone - sorry, I didn't realize I had fallen behind on replies in this post.

@George - Aww, thanks. She looks a little crazy in the pic, and cute. She was definitely my cutie.

@Angie - Hey there. I am hopeless with FB changes. I am not even sure where the friend request thing is now. I will look at find you somehow!

@Barb the French Bean - I aim for "not bad"!! lol. I am okay with the military feel. The colours sort of match my mood. Maybe in spring I will spruce things up, if anyone is still around to read my drivel.

@sue ingram - Aw, tacky? Really? I like it. The only part I don't care much for is the advice part, too, because who doesn't like to give advice? People always mean well when they do.

How do you know that your homemade sunscreen actually blocks the broad spectrum UVA and UVB rays? I'm not being smart, I am actually curious.